After a week of warranted forensic analysis of Collingwood's age profile, defensive intent and fitness standards, Collingwood produced the perfect response on Saturday night to the Opening Round disaster against Greater Western Sydney.
Craig McRae's side defeated Port Adelaide by 91 points at the MCG, bouncing back from a 52-point loss last Sunday.
At 28 years and 82 days, Collingwood was the oldest round zero/one team in VFL/AFL history last weekend. On Saturday night, Collingwood were even older at 28 years and 136 days – the fourth-oldest ever – but they were far bolder than six days ago. The speed, pressure and aggression was drastically different to what was produced at Engie Stadium.
After combining for just three goals in western Sydney – Dan McStay, Brody Mihocek and Tim Membrey finished with a total of 10 goals in the 21.10 (136) to 6.9 (45) win in front of 63,282 people.
The signs for Port Adelaide were ominous early. After kicking six goals in four quarters against the Giants, Collingwood had as many on the board by quarter-time. Dan Houston commanded the wide expanses of the MCG, putting the ball inside 50 three times from 10 damaging first-term touches.
Membrey kicked three goals and dished off another one by the time he swapped the City End for the Punt Road End in a sizzling first home appearance in black and white stripes. With no Brandon Zerk-Thatcher or Esava Ratugolea, the Power looked vulnerable down back. The 21-point margin at the first break should have been more, given Collingwood amassed 12 more inside 50s, but the intent was there from the outset.
Port Adelaide needed a response and got one from Jason Horne-Francis early in the second quarter. The inside bull swept through for two early centre clearances, following up the second with two extra efforts to set the tone early. Travis Boak cashed in early with the first goal of the term, but Collingwood's relentless pressure, real and perceived, forced the Power into basic skill errors between the arcs.
Collingwood had 38 tackles by half-time, a basic metric that highlighted a clear improvement to the assessment GWS skipper Toby Greene made in the week about the Giants having a ‘clear athletic advantage' last weekend. When Jamie Elliott slotted a pinpoint set shot from the pocket for his second, Collingwood had a 34-point lead and were in control.
Brayden Maynard got in on the action after half-time. The All-Australian defender drilled two goals in two minutes from almost the same patch of grass 40 metres from goal. Then he was involved in a coast-to-coast goal after whacking a kick-in forward that resulted in a Nick Daicos goal that made it eight goals in a row. The third quarter was brutal for Port Adelaide, conceding seven goals to one.
While Port Adelaide was missing Zak Butters, who has won the past two John Cahill medals, their defensive pressure will be examined across the week, just like Collingwood's was this week.
A week, as they say, is a long time in football.
COLLINGWOOD 6.5 9.7 16.9 21.10 (136)
PORT ADELAIDE 3.2 4.3 5.5 6.9 (45)
GOALS
Collingwood: Membrey 4, McStay 3, Mihocek 3, Elliott 2, Maynard 2, Hill 2, Lipinski, Sidebottom, N.Daicos, Sullivan, Schultz
Port Adelaide: Lukosius, Sweet, Rioli, Boak, Byrne-Jones, Horne-Francis
BEST
Collingwood: Houston, Sidebottom, Membrey, McStay, N.Daicos, Crisp, Long
Port Adelaide: Rozee, Boak, Farrell, Wines
INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Port Adelaide: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Collingwood: Scott Pendlebury (replaced Jeremy Howe in the third quarter)
Port Adelaide: Ryan Burton (replaced Lachie Jones in the third quarter)
Crowd: 63,282 at the MCG
